Clashes at Madagascar opposition protest leave one dead, others wounded
Thousands of opposition activists protest against new election laws; clashes erupt after police fire tear gas to try to disperse the crowd
One person died and 17 others were injured Saturday in clashes between Madagascar’s security forces and thousands of opposition activists protesting against new election laws ahead of a vote later this year in the restive island nation.
Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana said in an address on state television that the country faced a “sad” day with the loss of a life during the demonstrations.
“According to the official report, there is one death and 17 wounded,” he said.
Earlier, Olivat Alison Aimee Rakoto, head of the public hospital HJRA in Antananarivo, had said that they had attended to “17 wounded …, one of whom succumbed to his wounds”. He did not specify if the injured were protesters or police.
The premier said an investigation had been launched “to shed light on the cause of this death”.